How are local farms working towards environmental sustainability and economic viability for their farm businesses? Join the Food and Health Network for tours at Trinity Valley Dairy and Main Street Farms on June 30th to explore these questions! Stay tuned for upcoming tours across the region in July and August as part of our Summer Farm Tour Series.

As part of Hunger Action Month, the Tioga County Anti-Hunger Task Force invites you to a special free screening of this ground-breaking documentary. We are inviting interested community members to this event to brainstorm ideas of how we can work together to address hunger and poverty in Tioga County.

Join Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County, the Food & Health Network, and New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, as we hear from Cornell Vegetable Program’s Robert Hadad to learn how to design, build, and operate a small-scale, DIY post-harvest handling system! This great workshop will focus on the trifecta of good washing and handling—food safety, maintaining high quality and efficiency, and affordability for new and small growers. The session starts with a discussion and hands-on demonstration of how to design and set-up your wash line, tables, and packing shed, with a focus on safe and efficient product flow to separate “dirty” field harvested produce from the washed and “clean” final product. Next, we’ll look at setting up standard operating practices covering a range of methods of washing produce, including dunking, spraying, and aerating, as well as the why and how of using sanitizers. This session finishes with an examination of clean-up procedures and post-harvest handling considerations, including re-cooling, packing, and storage. If you want to build or upgrade your wash lines and post-harvest handling techniques and produce a safer, longer storing product, this workshop is for you!

2015 Schedule for FaHN Meetings and Community Forums:

Purpose: Please join the Food and Health Network in Oneonta for an exciting discussion on economic vitality in South Central New York, co-hosted by the Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship (CADE). This is an important opportunity to share key strengths, assets, and opportunities for revitalizing the economy through regional food systems – from thriving local farms to increased purchasing of local food. We want to hear from you! Your input will inform the 2015 update to the Regional Food System Assessment for SCNY, focused on economic vitality.This meeting is part of a series of discussions around the region to gather community input. To learn more about the Food System Assessment, please visit the FaHN website here.

The meeting is open to the public and all are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to Erin Summerlee at fahncoordinator@rhnscny.org or 607-692-7669

June FaHN Community Forum:
Leveraging Resources for Healthy Food Systems

How can communities utilize economic development funds to build a healthier food system? Join us to learn about several funding sources, including the Regional Economic Development Council Consolidated Funding Application, Upstate Revitalization Fund, and the Southern Tier Agricultural Economic Development Initiative. Please RSVP to: fahncoordinator@rhnscny.org or 607-692-7669.

The meeting is co-hosted by the Broome County Child Hunger Task Force, and will focus on strategies to ensure more children have access to free, healthy meals during the summer. Patrick Walsh, Food Service Director for Binghamton City Schools will join us discuss the Summer Food Service Program. Randi Lynn Quackenbush, Advocacy and Education Manager, Food Bank of the Southern Tier will present on Child Nutrition Reauthorization and how it impacts access to meals in the summer and year round.In 2014, only 20% of children in the region who were eligible for free or reduced priced meals at school participated in the Summer Food Service Program, which provides children ages 18 and under with meals when school is out. Summer meal programs promote good health and when combined with activities can combat summer learning loss.Community partners are critical to finding creative ways to increase outreach, address transportation barriers, and connect sites with programming and volunteers. We hope you can join us! Please RSVP to fahncoordinator@rhnscny.org or 607-692-7669.

Please join the Food and Health Network in Cortland for an important discussion on economic vitality in South Central New York. During the meeting we will hear from Glenda Neff, Farm to Institution New York State, and hold a discussion on the 2015 Economic Vitality Update to the Regional Food System Assessment for SCNY. This is an exciting opportunity to share key strengths, assets, and opportunities for thriving farms and vibrant communities and learn more about the role of Farm to Institution. Your input is critical, we hope you can join us!

Please join the Food and Health Network our first meeting of 2015! This is an important meeting as we will be reviewing and voting on the 2015 FaHN work plan and budget, setting policy priorities for the year and discussing funding opportunities. We have lots of exciting news to share, including a trip to D.C, a new summer food service initiative, and more! Please join us in Owego to share your valuable input, learn, and enjoy tasty local food.

Please RSVP to rhsc-rf@rhnscny.org or 607-692-7669 by Tuesday, February 24th.

Join us at the 4th Annual “Growing Markets” Hobart Farmers’ Lunch, a FREE half day conference and luncheon for farmers and members of the regional food community presented in partnership by the Hobart Rotary Club and Food & Health Network of South Central NY.

The event will feature speakers on growing your farm business. We will also hear from several organizations about the programs and services they offer for local farms. A delicious locally sourced lunch will be served.

This is a great way to stay connected, celebrate local entrepreneurship, learn and make new friends!

Interested in grazing, local grass-based beef, soil health or nutrition? Then join the Food & Health Network for a tour of Flaca Vaca Farm, a grass-based family farm in Delaware county, New York!

About Flaca Vaca Farm: “Our mission is to cultivate wholeness, health, and agricultural integrity through the essentials, through the most natural methods and materials, and through physical and emotional bonds with all aspects of farm production. The name: Flaca Vaca, skinny cow. It speaks of our desire to focus the way we raise animals and grow produce down to the elemental parts. We draw lessons from our ecological context to measure biological performance and guide the way we produce food.” Please RSVP to rhsc-rf@rhnscny.org or 607-692-7669 by Tuesday, June 24th.

What are food hubs and why do they matter for our regional food system? Join the Food and Health Network at the Finger Lakes Fresh Food Hub in Groton, NY to find out! We will tour the 18,000 square foot facility and discuss their unique role connecting regional farms with distributors and consumers. We will also learn about various aspects of the hub, from developing partnerships with local farms and retailers to product development/marketing, and to hear about future plans. FLF Food Hub Tour AnnouncementAugust 28, 2-4PM
Location: Tioga County Office Building, Legislative Conference Room, 56 Main Street, Owego
View the meeting announcement and agenda here.
Please RSVP to rhsc-rf@rhnscny.org or 607-692-7669 by

BITE into our region with the Food and Health Network of South Central New York and celebrate our community for November Binghamton First Friday! Join us atRiverRead Bookson Nov. 7 for the premier of our first film and a pie contest that highlights delicious local ingredients.

Want to put your baking skills to the test? Submit your favorite pie made with ingredients from our region. Undercover judges will determine the best pie based on flavor, local ingredients used, originality and appearance. The winner will receive a 2 person cooking class voucher at The Kitchen Store in Owego!